Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State is often praised for his impressive infrastructure projects — new roads, flyovers, schools, and other visible developments across the state. But a closer look at the state budget and public reports shows that other important areas like health, education, and agriculture may not be getting the same attention.
In the last few years, Adamawa State budgets show heavy funding for works and infrastructure, while sectors that directly affect people’s daily lives have received smaller shares. For example, in the 2024 budget, the Ministry of Works and Energy Development received about 22 billion naira, while the Ministry of Health got only about 9 billion naira and the Ministry of Agriculture less than 7 billion naira.
Reports from the Adamawa State Bureau of Statistics and the National Bureau of Statistics also show that rural areas still face challenges like poor access to healthcare and low school attendance rates. In some local government areas, especially in rural Adamawa, there are fewer functional clinics and higher teacher-to-student ratios compared to urban centers like Yola and Mubi.
Critics say this imbalance shows a focus on physical projects that can be easily seen, while human development — such as improving health services, farming systems, and basic education — is lagging behind.
A policy analyst from BudgetITNG explained in a 2023 review that while infrastructure boosts the state’s image, neglecting human development could limit long-term progress. The analyst pointed out that real development is measured not just by roads and bridges but by the quality of education, healthcare, and rural productivity.
The Adamawa State Government, on the other hand, continues to highlight its “Fresh Air” agenda as a balanced development plan. However, available figures show that most of the visible progress lies in physical infrastructure.
Sources:
Adamawa State Government Budget Documents (2022–2024): www.adamawastate.gov.ng/download
BudgetIT Nigeria: www.yourbudgit.com
National Bureau of Statistics Reports: www.nigerianstat.gov.ng
Premium Times: www.premiumtimesng.com
Daily Trust: www.dailytrust.com.ng
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